Assuming he likes his options, Masahiro Tanaka will belong to one major league team by 2 p.m. Friday. The Japanese pitcher has many options — and lots of money — to choose from before the deadline.

Tanaka and his agent, Casey Close, met with several teams Jan. 9 in Los Angeles. Now, with less than 72 hours to go, their choices are reportedly down to five teams: the Dodgers, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. Nikkan Sports reported that the Dodgers and Yankees were the highest bidders, offering contracts in excess of six years and $100 million.

Bidding has escalated in part because of a thin free-agent class of starting pitchers, in part because of Tanaka’s record of success (he went 24-0 last year in Japan’s top league), in part because he’s younger than most free agents at age 25.

Teams are hoping he can become a major league ace along the lines of countryman Yu Darvish, but Tanaka’s environment will undoubtedly play an essential role in his success.

Here’s what each of the five teams can offer Tanaka, along with our predicted odds of where he’ll land:

YANKEES (2:3)

Pros: The Yankees have a history of success (27 championships, but only one in the last 13 years) and plenty of Japanese stars who can vouch for it. If Hiroki Kuroda and Ichiro Suzuki can convince Tanaka to join them this year, the Yankees will have the No. 1 starter they need to compete with the American League’s best teams — on paper, at least.

Cons: The Yankees’ roster was the oldest in the league last year, and will need to be healthier to contend in 2014. The rotation is particularly fragile. Tanaka pitched the final inning of Japan’s World Series one day after he started and threw 160 pitches; he might pitch on back-to-back days again if injuries befall starters C.C. Sabathia, Kuroda or Ivan Nova.

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DODGERS (3:2)

Pros: Tanaka won’t have to shoulder the burden of being the undisputed ace who leads the Dodgers to the promised land. They’re already a well-balanced team with World Series aspirations. Hideo Nomo made Los Angeles a destination for Japanese players in 1995. Tanaka’s wife reportedly would prefer to remain on the Pacific coast.

Cons: If Tanaka wants the spotlight all to himself, he’ll have to fight for attention among all the Dodgers’ superstars — at least among the American media. If he doesn’t, there are no Japanese players around to deflect the cavalcade of attention. The Dodgers haven’t had one since Kuroda left town in 2011.

CUBS (10:1)

Pros: Every member of the Cubs’ projected lineup and starting rotation is 30 or younger, and the farm system boasts some high-caliber position player prospects. In theory, that puts the Cubs in a decent position of financial flexibility and stability for the future — two things that will be hard for Tanaka to turn down.

Cons: Coming off a 96-loss campaign in 2013, the Cubs can’t offer Tanaka a chance at a second consecutive championship. Their major-league payroll has decreased each of the last three seasons, and management may be counting on the new crop of youngsters to realize its potential — otherwise Tanaka will have no shot at a World Series anytime soon.

WHITE SOX (12:1)

Pros: Like their cross-town brethren, the White Sox are rebuilding — arguably with more major-league ready youngsters than the Cubs. Left-hander Chris Sale would be an ideal complement to the right-handed Tanaka at the top of the rotation.

Cons: A 99-loss season in 2013 is a lot to rebound from. Even if they do, the White Sox must convince Tanaka they can reverse a trend of finishing below .500 every other year since winning the 2006 World Series. Not much history to compete with there.

DIAMONDBACKS (15:1)

Pros: The D-backs haven’t had a losing season since Kirk Gibson became their manager. Tanaka would join under-30 stars in Patrick Corbin, Addison Reed, Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo to form a solid young nucleus. Phoenix is a large city but isn’t a major media hub, something no other team on this list can offer.

Cons: No team has a shorter history, or a shorter history of Japanese players (Takashi Saito’s 16 games in 2012 are the extent of it). The D-Backs have the disadvantage of being stuck in the same division as the Dodgers and Giants, who have won five of the last six NL West titles.